Thursday, March 10, 2011
India launches prepaid electric meter initiative
The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co. Ltd. began installing prepaid electricity meters in homes in cities across India, according to The Times of India. The meters are recharged over the Internet, as well as via "coupons" in the form of prepaid cards inserted into the meters. The MSEDCL plans to set up 20 self-service vending machines across the state to enable consumers to buy recharge "coupons," the news outlet said.
The first phase of the roll out involves the installation of 25,000 prepaid meters in "second homes" of citizens in Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Pen, Kalyan, Kolhapur, Mahabaleshwar, Matheran and Chikhaldara, The Times of India reported. In addition, the report said recipients of the meters do not have to pay for them, but that if the meters are not recharged, electricity supply is automatically cut off.
According to a MSEDCL statement quoted by The Times of India, a special facility called "happy hours" enables consumers to recharge the meters on national or other holidays to quell the fear of having power disconnected if meters are due to be recharged on holidays.
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